KUALA LUMPUR: More than 10,000 out of 274,000 motorists have settled their Automated Enforcement System (AES) summonses since the system was implemented on Sept 23.

Road Transport Department deputy director-general Datuk Ismail Ahmad said the payment rate was still low when compared with the number of summonses issued.

"Motorists must understand that the AES is not implemented to burden them, but is a method to reduce road accidents," he said after launching a Road Safety Awareness Campaign organised by the Consumers Protection and Welfare Board at the Sungai Besi Toll Plaza here.

Ismail said various challenges were faced by enforcement agencies in reducing road accidents, especially fatalities, such as the increase in the number of vehicles and drivers each year.

He said the country experienced an increase of about 1.1 million vehicles a year and an additional 400,000 drivers, which posed a challenge to the department and other enforcement agencies in reducing fatalities.

"Actually, the increase in the number of vehicles and drivers is not a problem. What's important is that motorists have self-awareness and take the initiative to reduce road deaths." Bernama